Virginia Tech suspends defensive end Jaevon Becton

The Virginia Tech Hokies suspended redshirt sophomore Jaevon Becton on Wednesday morning. The athletic department released a statement concerning Becton:

Virginia Tech football student-athlete Jaevon Becton has been suspended from the program, effective immediately. He is subject to the policies set forth in the Virginia Tech Code of Student Conduct. There will be no further comment on the matter.

This is serious, folks.

Anytime the athletic department mentions the student code of conduct, this doesn’t bode well. First, let’s be clear: We are not going to speculate on why Becton was suspended. Rumors will persist and they aren’t fair to Becton. This is a private matter.

So, how does it affect the Hokies on the field?

Becton played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He made 12 tackles, including six solo. At 6’4”, 255 pounds, Becton has outstanding size and was expected to move up the depth chart this spring.

Becton, who played at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, is a former Georgia commit who backed off his pledge during his senior season of high school before eventually committing to Virginia Tech.

Under new defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton, Becton’s size would be a positive for him. The new defensive staff has focused on adding size up front, where Bud Foster often preferred smaller and quicker defensive ends.

Becton is not listed on Virginia Tech’s spring roster.

The Hokies return starting defensive ends TyJuan Garbutt and Emmanuel Belmar and backups Eli Adams, Jaylen Griffin and Zion Debose. The Hokies added four defensive ends from the class of 2020 but only one enrolled this spring in Derrell Bailey.

Virginia Tech opens spring practice on March 21.